Motor powered earth mover



i 8 0 12 3mm ROOM Aug. 1, 1950 G. l. CLARK 23,251

MOTOR POWERED EARTH MOVER 012155.235)? ,ZOZ

Original Filed Dec. 18, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l //v1 E/Yr0/? Geraid l Clark W H ma E Qv Aug. 1, 1950 a. i. CLARK uowoa POWERED EARTH MOVER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 18, 1942 Gerald I. Clark 7%;? m

Aug. 1, 1950 G. 1. CLARK 23,251

MOTOR POWERED EARTH MOVER Original Filed Dec. 18, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 0 m N N w arra' ,IYE).

Reisaued Aug. 1, 1950 MOTOR POWERED EARTH MOVER Gerald I. Clark, Santa Clara, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to R. G. Le Tourneau, Inc., Peoria, 111., a corporation of California Original No. 2,368,202, dated January 30, 1945,

Serial No. 469,430, December 18, 1942. Application for reissue January 9, 1946, Serial No.

12 Claims.

This invention relates generally to motor powered vehicles, and particularly to earth moving machines or like vehicles designed for the handling of relatively heavy loads.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved machine of the above character, and which in particular will be characterized by smooth and easy steering of the front wheels on effective application of traction from the driving motor under all conditions of operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved earth mover or scraper of the type having a front motor powered truck unit, and which has novel means for attaching the truck unit to the remainder of the scraper and for steering the same.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figures 1 and 1a., taken together, constitute a side elevational view of a scraper or earth mover incorporating the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating the forward supplemental frame and associated parts, and which carries the driving motor and steering mechanism.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing parts of the hydraulic steering mechanism.

Earth moving machines adapted for digging, carrying, and earth discharging operations are well known to those skilled in the art and are shown for example in Wooldridge 2,262,310, Clark 2,271,791, and Berner application Serial Number 417,837, filed November 3, 1941, for Earth Moving Equipment, now Patent No. 2,318,190. As generally employed such machines make use of front and rear pairs of carrying wheels, with the axle of the front wheels connected to the forward end of the main frame by a fifth wheel or ball and socket arrangement. A draft bar extends from the front axle for attachment to a conventional tractor. Instead of relying entirely upon a tractor to move such machines, it has been proposed to directly apply power to the front wheels from a suitable motor, which in turn is mounted upon a front truck frame. (See for example Patent No. 1,530,779.) In practice it is customary for a separate tractorto push such a machine during the digging operation, after which the machine proceeds under its own power. The steering of such motor powered scrapers involves a particular problem because of the heavy loads carried, and because of the rough ground surface Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue over which they must travel. In one machine now being manufactured the front wheels are steered by providing selectively operated clutches between the driving motor and the two front wheels, whereby the operator may apply driving force to either one of the two front wheels singly, or to both wheels simultaneously. While attempting to gain headway at the end of a digging operation, such machines are subject to jack kniilng, or in other words to uncontrolled oscillation of the front truck unit as the operator attempts to steer while at the same time secure maximum traction. This is undesirable because it interferes with development of maximum traction and it causes undue strain and wear on certain parts of the machine. In addition the type of connection employed between the motor truck frame and the frame of the scraper causes an undesirable tilting of the motor as the main scraper bowl is lifted and lowered.

The present invention uses a differential gear drive from the engine to the two front wheels, without selectively controlled clutches. The connection between the front truck unit and the main frame of the machine is such that the truck unit can turn about the vertical axis of a king pin and may also oscillate about a horizontal axis. Steering is effected by a novel mechanism interposed between the truck unit and the main frame of the machine, whereby the entire truck unit is turned about a vertical axis.

The machine illustrated in the drawings consists generally of a front motor powered truck unit A which is attached to the scraper unit B. The scraper unit corresponds generally to the machine disclosed in Berner Patent 2,318,190, and includes the main frame 10, the main bowl II, the front apron or auxiliary bowl l2, and a hinged bottom It or expeller for the main bowl. The rear end of this structure carries the ground engaging wheels it, while the forward end of the main frame I0 is attached to the truck unit A, as will be presently explained. As described in said Patent 2,318,190 the main frame I0 is in the form of a yoke, with side arm l0 extending along the sides of the main bowl H and pivotally secured to the main bowl at II. This point of pivotal connection can be concentric with the connection of the mainbowl with the rear axle of wheels ll. As described in said Patent 2,318,190 operating cables are connected to the forward end of the main bowl II, to the expeller I 3, and to the front apron II, in order to manipulate these parts during operation of the machine.

' By manipulating these cables the main bowl can be lowered with respect to the frame H! to take a cut with the apron l2 held in an elevated open position, the main bowl can then be raised to clear it from the ground with the front apron dropped or closed so hat the load can be carried to a point of discharge, and the front apron can then be raised and the expeller l3 swung upwardly and forwardly to discharge the load. The arrangement of such cables and their points of connections form no part of the present invention and has been omitted. It may be briefly pointed out however that depending upon the manner in which the cables are reaved, either two or three cables can be employed for carrying out the various operations pointed out above The forward truck unit A consists of a suitable rigid frame 2| which carries the driving motor 22. The shaft of this engine is connected to the front wheels 23 through the combination. variable speed driving gear and clutch 24,

the rearwardly extending drive shaft 26, and the differential 21. The differential drives the sprockets 28 which are connected by chains 29 with the sprockets 3|. The sprockets 3| are suitably journalled to the frame and rotate pinions which in turn drive ring gears carried by the wheels 23. These wheels are mounted upon aligned stub shafts on an axis extending laterally of the frame.

The connection between the motor powered unit A and the remainder of the machine is with the forward extension 33 of the main frame III, the extension being coincident with the central vertical plane of the machine. To establish this connection the extension 33 is provided with a journal box or hub 34 which carries the king pin 36. A cradle connection designated generally 31 establishes connection between the lower end of pin 36 and the frame 2| of the motor unit. Thus the lower end of pin 36 is secured to the plate 33, and the forward and the rear ends of this plate carry the depending ears 39, which in turn are journaled to the hirizontal pivot shaft 4|. Between ears 33 the shaft 4! engages the central portion of a rigid cross beam 42, the ends of which are attached to the side members 43 of the frame 2|. With a connection of this character it is apparent that the motor unit A is free to oscillate about the horizontal axis of pin 4|, which axis intersects with the central vertical plane of the unit A, and also with the axis of the king pin 35. Likewise the unit A is free to turn about the axis of king pin 36 relative to the frame III.

For applying steering forces between the unit A and frame I0, I provide a pair of hydraulic operators 45, the cylinders of which are fixed to the frame 2|, and which have piston rods 41 which are moved in one direction or the other by application of oil or like liquid under pressure. The piston rods carry sheaves 48 which in turn are engaged by the cables or chains 43. One end of each chain is anchored to the frame as at and from this anchorage point each chain extends forwardly about a corresponding sheave 48, and then rearwardly over the arcuate guide track 52. This track can be in the form of a curved channel rigidly secured to the cross beam 42 and carrying a plurality of spaced guide rollers 53. At their rear ends the chains 43 have a common articulated connection with the frame III. This connection is formed by a yoke 54, which has side branches 56 and a. rearwardly protruding neck or arm 51. The forward ends of the side arms 56 have pivotal connection 58 with the depending ears El, the latter being formed on the side ends of the plate 62. This plate is attached to the lower end of the journal or hub 34. The pivotal connection thus established by yoke 54 is on a, horizontal axis fixed with respect to the frame l0 and extending laterally of the machine. Neck or arm 51 is disposed in the vertical central plane of the machine, and is free to move a limited amount in a vertical direction.

The rear end of the neck or arm 51 has a point of connection with the adjacent end of the chains 49. Thus for this purpose the rear end of neck 51 has depending portion 63 carrying a bolt 64, which in turn is attached to adjacent ends of chains 49. This point of connection is within the curved track 52.

A suitable arrangement for making hydraulic connections to the operators 4G is shown in Figure 3. Briefly pipes 66 connect the operators 46 with the steering valve 61. This valve is connected by pipe 68 to the discharge side of the oil pressure pump 69. Pipe II also connects valve 61 to the inlet side of the pump 69, so that for neutral position of valve 61 when no oil is being supplied to the operators 46, all of the oil from pump 53 is circulated through pipes 68 and H. Pipe H is also connected by pipes 72 and 13 with the oil reservoir 14, and the lower part of this reservoir connects back to pipe 1| through pipe 15 and check valve ll. Pipe I2 is provided with the safety pressure relief valve 13.

When the steering valve 61 is operated from neutral position to supply liquid from pipe 58 to the left hand operator 46 as viewed in Figure 3, movement of the piston of this operator necessarily causes opposite movement of the right hand operator piston. To accommodate such movement of the right hand operator, valve 51 also connects pipe 66 to the right hand operator with liquid pipe 1|, whereby an amount of liquid is displaced from the right hand operator 45 into pipe ll, corresponding to the liquid introduced from pipe 68 into the left hand operator 46. Operation of the steering valve 61 to connect pipe 68 with the right hand operator 46, necessarily causes reverse operation of the left hand operator 45, to displace liquid through its associated pipe 66 to pipe H, as previously described. Should an unsafe pressure be developed in pipe II, it is relieved through the valve 18. Should suction be developed in line H, oil is withdrawn from the reservoir through the check valve 11.

Referring to Figure l, the control valve 61 is suitably mounted near the front of the machine and is shown being operated by the hand steering wheel 8|. Pump 69 is driven in any desired manner from the motor 22.

As previously explained it is desirable that the main bowl, the front apron and the expeller of the machine be operated by two or three cables. In order to wind up or play out these cables I have shown a multiple drum winch 82 of the general type disclosed and claimed in Clark Patent No. 2,270,507. Operation of the clutches and the release of the brake bands of the winch drums can be by pneumatic operators, controlled in turn by a selective pneumatic valve 83.

Operation of the machine described above can be outlined as follows: assuming that the machine is in motion the operator by turning the hand wheel 8| operates the hydraulic control valve 51, which inturn causes operation of the ems r hydraulic operators 46. Depending upon how these operators are actuated motion is transmitted through the chains 49 by movement of sheaves 48, and because the rear ends of these chains are anchored to the arm 51, which in turn is nonrotatable with respect to frame HI, the entire truck unit A is turned about the axis of king pin 36. Any inequalities of the ground surface over which the unit travels may cause the unit A to rock about the axis of cradle shaft ll, and such rocking movement may occur in different steering positions. Since the axis of the cradle shaft 4| may assume various angles with respect to the vertical central plane of the main frame In, the anchorage bolt 64 for connecting the chains 4! to the arm 51 assumes different levels with respect to the main frame,

such movements being accommodated by swingv ing of arm 51 about the horizontal transverse axis of pivotal connections 58. In this connection it will be noted that the axis of pivotal connections 58 substantially intersects the axis of cradle shaft ll. This makes possible a simple type of articulated anchorage without imposing undue strains upon the parts involved.

It has been found that my machine is not subject to jack knifing under any conditions of operation. Full torque can be applied to the front wheels 23 from the motor while taking on a load and while endeavoring to gain headway after the bowl has been raised from the ground.

I claim:

1. In a motor powered vehicle, a structure including a main frame, a pair of rear carrying wheels secured to the structure, an upright king pin journaled to the forward end of the main frame, a supplemental forward truck frame, a pair of front wheels carried by the truck frame, a motor carried by the truck frame and connected to drive the front wheels, a cradle connected between the lower end of the king pin and the truck frame whereby the truck frame may rock about a general horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the truck frame, a yoke having side branchespivotally connected to the forward end of the main frame, the points of pivotal connection being on opposite sides of the central vertical plane of the vehicle and on an axis generally horizontal and extending laterally of the machine, the neck of the yoke being in said vertical plane and movable in a vertical direction, and steering means including motion transmitting elements serving to connect the truck frame to the neck of the yoke.

2. In a motor powered vehicle, a structure including a main frame, a pair of rear carrying wheels for the structure, an upright king pin journaled to the forward end of the main frame, a supplemental forward truck frame located generally below the forward end of the main frame, a pair of front wheels carried by the truck frame, a driving motor carried by the truck frame and connected to drive the front wheels, a cradle connected in between the lower end of the king pin and the supplemental frame whereby the supplemental frame may rock about a generally horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the truck frame, the axis of the cradle connection to the king pin being substantially at right angles to the axis of the king pin and intersecting with the same, a yoke having its side branches pivotally connected to the forward end of the main frame, the points of pivotal connection being on opposite sides of the axis of the king pin on a horizontal axis extending laterally of the mechine, said axis being also located substantially on the same level as the axis for the cradle connection, the neck of the yoke being located in the vertical central plane of the machine, and being movable in a vertical direction relative to the main frame, motion transmitting elements connecting the secondary frame to the neck of the yoke, and power means for applying steering motion through said elements to turn the supplemental frame relative to the main frame.

3. The vehicle as in claim 2 in which the power means for applying steering motion includes a pair of hydraulic actuators.

4. In a motor powered vehicle, a structure including a main frame, a pair of rear carrying wheels for the structure, an upright king pin journaled to the forward end of the main frame, a supplemental frame located generally below the forward end of the main frame, a pair of front wheels carried by the supplemental frame, a motor carried by the supplemental frame and serving to drive the front wheels, a cradle connection between the lower end of the king pin and the supplemental frame, whereby the supplemental frame may rock about a generally horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the supplemental frame, and means for steering the supplemental frame and its associated wheels relative to the main frame, said means including a yoke, means for pivotally securing the side branches of the yoke at spaced points on opposite sides of the axis of the king pin and to the forward end portion of the main frame, the axis of the pivotal attachment being horizontal and laterally of the machine, the neck of the yoke being located in the central vertical plane of the vehicle and being movable in a vertical direction, a pair of flexible motion transmitting elements having corresponding ends anchored to the neck of the yoke, said elements having their other ends anchored to the supplemental frame, power means for applying steering motion to said elements, and an arcuate trackway carried by the supplemental frame and serving to guide the flexible elements.

5. In combination, a wheeled tractor, a trailer, a draft unit on the trailer, coupling means connecting the tractor to the draft unit in steerable relation, and power actuated means, including the draft unit in part, connected between the tractor and draft unit operative to steer the true-- tor independently of its wheels; said coupling means connecting the tractor and draft unit in laterally tiltable relation to each other, and said power actuated means being operative without restricting said relative lateral tilting movement.

6. In combination, a tractor, a trailer, a draft unit on the trailer, coupling means connecting the tractor and draft unit in laterally tiltable, horizontally steerable relation to each other, and a power actuated steering mechanism connected between the tractor and draft unit operative to cause relative steering movement of the tractor without restricting said relative lateral tilting movement between the tractor and draft unit.

7. In combination, a wheeled tractor, a trailer, a draft unit on the trailer, coupling means connecting the tractor to the draft unit in steerable relation, and power actuated means, including the draft unit in part, connected between the tractor and draft unit operative to steer the truetor independently of its wheels; said coupling means connecting the tractor and draft unit for lateral tilting about a fixed longitudinal axis of the tractor, said power actuated means being operative without restricting said relative lateral tilting movement.

8. In combination, a tractor, a trailer, a draft unit on the trailer, coupling means connecting the tractor and draft unit for lateral tilting about a fixed longitudinal axis of the tractor and in horizontally steerable relation to each other, and a power actuated steering mechanism connected between the tractor and draft unit operative to cause relative steering movement of the tractor without restricting said relative lateral tilting movement between the tractor and draft unit.

9. A device as set forth in claim 5 in which said trailer includes, a frame; a hub carried by said frame; and a kingpin iournaled in said hub with its axis extending substantially vertically; said kingpin having a cradle for pivotally connecting said kingpin to said tractor; said cradle being mounted for rotation about an axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tractor.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9 in which said tractor is provided with a hydraulic ram having a cylinder non-movably fastened to said tractor, and in which said ram has a piston rod arranged to apply steering force to said tractor.

11 A device as set forth in claim 10 in which a steering yoke is provided having its forked ends fastened to said hub at points located on opposite sides of said kingpin and having a free end; and which includes steering force transmitting means comprising an arcuate guide member non-movably-fastened to said tractor and having its center of curvature substantially concentric with said kingp n; a flexible member operably engaging said piston rod and arranged to be drawn around said guide member by force applied by said rod; and a driving connection between said flexible member and said free end of said steering yoke.

12. A device as set forth in claim 11 in which the axes of the connections between said cradle and said tractor, between said steering yoke and said hub, and between steering yoke and said driving connection all lie in substantially a same horizontal plane which is perpendicular to the axis of said kingpin.

GERALD I. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent, or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 616,211 Taylor Dec. 20, 1898 1,422,380 Schneider July 11, 1922 2,386,483 Le Tourneau Oct. 9, 1945 2,399,278 Le Tourneau Apr. 30, 1946 

